In commemoration of UT Foundation Day, the Post Graduate Department of Zoology, Islamia College of Science and Commerce, Srinagar organized a one day awareness programme on ‘Cancer & Its Challenges’.
Professor (Dr.) Nazir Ahmad Khan, Head, Department of Radiology Oncology, SKIMS, Soura was the keynote speaker and chief guest of the programme.
Addressing the programme, the keynote speaker Professor (Dr.) Khan presented a border outlook about Cancer. In his lucid presentation, he advocated that with the development and approval of many new therapies based on a deep biological understanding of cancer, recent years have seen significant progress against the disease, including for cancers that were previously hard to treat.
These hard-won gains, enabled by important insights from decades of science, have taught us a great deal about cancer and about cancer research, added the Head, Department of Radiology Oncology, SKIMS, Soura.
In his inaugural address, Principal of the College, Professor (Dr.) Khurshid Ahmad Khan opined that cancer is a multifaceted global health issue that continues to demand action. He added that we in the college and universities are conducting seminars, conferences, lectures, to inform, inspire and convene students across the multidisciplinary arena of subjects, aiming to advance biomedical knowledge and treatment strategies within the greater framework of society.
Principal said that cancer is affecting people of all ages. Cancer cuts through society, causing suffering on a global scale.
Earlier, Professor Javid Hussain, Head, PG Department of Zoology while introducing the theme of the programme said that recommendation from this program is that institutions and funding agencies should take more responsibility to learn and encourage how to move from bench to bedside to allow better outcomes of drug discovery projects on cancer.
Professor Zahida Mehraj said that according to the World Health Organization, cancer is responsible for one in six deaths, which makes it the second most common cause of death globally. Such seminars will go a long way in bridging the societal divide between a doctor and patient, she added.
Professor Mehraj Ud Din Gagloo advocated the fact that doctors, scientists and students who are working on cancer research should take the opportunity to connect better with clinicians to understand the full palate of issues while treating patients, including financial considerations, difficulties in patient recruitment, potential for toxicity and difficulty of compliance with complicated dosing regimens.
Training in the art of linking researchers and clinicians should begin early in colleges while graduating students to promote two-way interactions, with the aim of getting clinicians into the laboratories and students into clinics.
A huge gathering of students and staff also attended the awareness program and had a question/answer session.
